Trollking.co.uk

Its been three years now since http://www.trollking.co.uk was launched. I thought I’d take the opportunity to thank the 1780 web-surfers who have visited the site this year. Hey, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. I really do appreciate the support you all have given by visiting and leaving your comments. I must also apologise to the […]

Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society

Whenever someone pops into their library and borrows a book, the author receives 6 pence. This is a legal right. But the coalition government, as part of wider cuts, is considering cutting this by 3%, which would make it a 10% cut over three years, in real terms. For many authors, the library is the […]

Gamescon News: PS3

I know this blog is supposed to be about writing, but I’m allowed to talk about what inspires me right? At the moment, its videogames that seem to be inspiring me, so shut up and let me talk. Okay, I’ve spent some time to read up on the latest announcement that have come out of […]

The Birth of a Legend, David Gemmell Short Story

One of the most beloved characters for fans of the late David Gemmell’s writing is the axeman, Druss. Druss first appeared in Legend, a book that has not only captured the imagination of fantasy readers, but has converted would-be critics of the fantasy genre, to wanting to read more. The origins of Druss are revealed […]

Goodreads | Noor Jahangir’s review of The Sea-Hawk

Sir Oliver Tressilian is the elder son of a man remembered by people as a foul-tempered despot and some of that bias has passed on to his son. Sir Oliver has paid of his father’s debts and made his fortune by privateering in the name of the Queen, piracy by a gentler name. Now he […]

Reading and Writing Habits

This past weekend, I finished my editing mark up of Draft 1 of Adventures of Some Kid, and thus began working on Draft 2. I’ve had a bit of a break from writing these past few weeks, burying instead my head in books. Even writers need a break now and then even if writing is […]

Goodreads | Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini

Perhaps the most well known work by Rafael Sabatini, this book recieved the big screen treatment several times, including the 1935 version starring Errol Flynn. The book was orignally published in 1922 and is set in the historical background of the 1600s, opening with the Battle of Sedgemoor and ending with the Glorius Revolution in […]

The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain: by Maria Rosa Menocal

Once again the lines are blurring between my different identities, and by that I mean in every sense. Today I was approached by a former mentor and a former employer to begin a task that requires all my past and current experiences to merge together. The task is to tutor a group of Pakistani scholars […]

Islamic Art – Windows Live

Writing is really busy at the moment but I’ve found time to start a new hobby (in addition to reading books and playing videogames). Originally, the idea was to find my wife something to help distract her from the tedium of housework and child-rearing. See expressed an interest in art so I went out an […]

The author’s lot | theBookseller.com

There seems to be a growing sense of resentment amongst authors and agents toward the publishing industries heavy handed approach in dealing with writers. There are a few articles and a couple of blogs on the Bookseller website that voice these concerns, including Tom Holland, the chair of the Society of Authors. This leads […]